I was in my early 20s when I met Jesus. The first work - the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology - inspired me to search for the order of being, I began to read more. Thanks to the prayers and wisdom of my mother and sister, who came to God a year earlier, I also read the Gospel while I was still unconverted.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” These words from the Proverbs describe my journey most aptly. I did my High School studies with the perspective of studying applied arts in the Art Academy, but I was turned down as my Christian worldview was not in accordance with the higher education entry requirements set by the Soviet regime.
Üllas Tankler
God called me when I was a teenager. I felt that my role in God's kingdom was to be a pastor and teacher. At the age of 24 I became a pastor and started to serve the church first under the very restricted circumstances of the Soviet era, then during the great social changes and also the period of freedom of worship that followed.
Teaching and Missions are my two major passions in which I am called and continually equipped to operate. These passions I share with my wife who is an educator in Tallinn and my best companion on the mission field. I believe that the words taught should come in flesh through the actions of a Christian and the actions should be backed up by further study of the Word of God, History and Culture.
I went to college to prepare for a career in the law. However, in my senior year, God called me into ministry. Through my connection with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship I knew missionary kids who inspired me with their stories. Thanks to their witness, I sensed my call may not only include serving in the United States.
I have been teaching kids’ Sunday School classes since my conversion at the age of 17, when I was still at high school. Even so teaching was somewhat familiar to me, having to teach adults required a different approach and presented a new set of challenges. The first course I taught in the Seminary was Introduction to Psychology in 1999. Psychology was my specialty which I had studied at Tartu University; my final thesis was on the development of religious thinking.
God called me to be a Bible teacher when I was a second year seminary student in Sweden.I believe that knowing God’s Word is essential to living a life that is in harmony with God. I want to see that in my students but I also want to see them using what they have learned to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
I grew up in a non-Christian home and became a Christian when I was 10. My interest in theology grew together with the desire to know God more and more. John Wesley’s words would express exactly how I felt, “I want to know one thing, the way to heaven… God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. ... At any price give me the Book of God!”
